McGimpsey and Bostock condemn viable device at Cadogen Park

South Belfast Ulster Unionist Assembly Member Michael McGimpsey and Councillor Michelle Bostock have condemned those who left a viable device on the Malone Road at the Officer training corps at Queens University.

The device, which has now been removed by army technical officers, was declared a viable device and resulted in the Malone Road being closed for some time during Friday evening rush hour traffic.

In a statement Michael McGimpsey said,

“I utterly condemn those who recklessly left this device in a quite residential area of South Belfast. We are very lucky today that the speedy actions of Queen’s security staff, that discovered the device, police and army personnel mean that there are no injuries or fatalities. Without the actions of these people we could have been looking at a very different situation.”

Mr McGimpsey continued,

“The perpetrators have no place in our society. The people of South Belfast want to live in peace. Yesterday, yet again, the men of violence tried to drag us back but we must not let them. There is no place for violence in our society.”

Councillor Bostock said,

“I would like to pay tribute to Queens security staff, police and army personnel who worked to protect the lives and well being of local residents. This was a despicable act by people determined to cause death and destruction on our streets. It yet again brought traffic chaos to the streets of Belfast which undoubtedly had a detrimental impact upon already struggling businesses. These people and their actions must be condemned.”